SIR TREVOR BROOKING: Fresh England talent can bring us a better future...but only if clubs play ball

The sheer disappointment
shared by the nation following
our exit from the World Cup in
South Africa has underlined
the importance of so many
facets of the game in England, at both
grassroots and professional level.

The England Under 19 squad meet in Warwick
on Monday to prepare for their European
Championship in France.

If we want to gauge
the progress of our most talented youngsters
we have to test them at the highest level.
France, Holland and Austria will be formidable
group opponents.

High hopes: John Bostock will be hoping to make his mark for England in France

With Spain, Portugal, Italy
and Croatia also qualifying, this tournament
provides an exceptional opportunity to test
ourselves against the best.

If we want our young players to develop into
self-assured individuals capable of performing
and excelling at future World Cups and European
Championships, they have to experience
the rigours of tournament football at every
opportunity.

Everything in a tournament is different to life
with a club in England. The levels of focus
needed, the media scrutiny, the experience of
different countries and climates all add to the
mix.

Mastermind: Sir Trevor Brooking

As does the concentration of matches
where the opposition are the best young talent.

Beyond the individual level, what is more
important is to develop a way of playing, a philosophy that supports our
structure throughout the levels while
taking pressure off individuals and
placing the emphasis on the whole.

A lot of people are citing the German
system as a model for success. Every
model is different, however, and we
need to look at the complete picture.

It does seem one of the reasons they
are having some success now is a focus
on early development.
This is what we are trying to achieve
with five to 11-year-olds through the
FA Tesco Skills programme and our
Youth Award modules.

Not all of Germany’s players have
had lengthy or regular club careers,
but their experience and enjoyment of
previous tournament football — at
senior and particularly youth level —
shows.

That is something we are
also looking to achieve with our
youngsters.

Already this summer our Under 17s
have won their European Championship
in Liechtenstein. What this underlines
is that there is talent to be nurtured
at every level of the game, by the
England set-up and clubs.

Blueprint: The German system has produced players like Mesut Ozil

Despite some initial reports citing
conflict between clubs and our Under
19 management, it has been possible
to agree a level of co-operation from
clubs and managers to release their
players for what I believe to be invaluable
tournament experience.

To hear someone like Tottenham
manager Harry Redknapp speaking
about the importance of his young
players getting England experience
with us is really heartening and shows
the sort of spirit of working we need
to develop.

Quite simply, everyone needs tough
tournament challenges, but we need
access to our best players when we get
the chance, for the good of our youngsters
and ultimately to develop those
capable of appearing at senior level for
England.

Sir Trevor Brooking is the FA’s director of football development. To Get Into Football, visit www.thefa.com/GetIntoFootball